Abstract
Kimelman's reading of the Eden story argues that woman is not only the hero of the story but is representative of humanity. Her representative status, explains why the story features both woman and serpent, why the serpent talks specifically to woman, why of all the ancient epics of origins Genesis alone gives the creation of woman separate billing, and why Genesis underscores the commonality between man and woman. Among other things she shares that the Eden story reflects the perennial struggle of humanity to break out from its subdivine status only to come upon the chasm separating the human from the divine.